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PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR TO MAGICAL MADAGASCAR JUNE 5-21, 2017

OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION: Join Nicki Collins Geigert and Jay Collier and on a trip of a lifetime to the exotic magical island of Madagascar. This trip was especially planned to include the Best of the Best that Madagascar has to offer. Madagascar has over 60 species of lemurs, including the elusive Aye Aye and the tiny mouse lemurs, only seen at night! There are the most fascinating chameleons and frogs, birds and insects, that anyone has ever seen and that exist nowhere else, and that doesn’t even include the diverse plant life. Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world. There are more than enough unique things to see and photograph that would take years to photograph it all. Nature lovers, and photographers of all skill levels must experience this incredible dream destination!

YOUR GUIDES

NICKI COLLINS GEIGERT – Photographer, Logistics Coordinator, USA. Nicki first started playing with a camera when she was 8 years old. Because of the joy that she found in capturing a moment in time, she continued to pursue photography as a hobby until her retirement several years ago. Since that time, she has invested herself in the art of photography and has had a number of gallery shows in Los Angeles, and also had some of her images in several Fodor’s Travel Guides, and Sunset magazine. She has many years of experience in travel to Africa, India, China, Southeast Asia, Antarctica and other parts of the world. Nicki also writes children’s books and is currently working on two special books that are photography based. She has several photo books to her credit. Madagascar remains on her list of “most unique” places on the planet to photograph. With the expertise of Asisten Travel of

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Madagascar, Nicki has put this trip together for you to experience the best of the best that Madagascar has to offer. JAY COLLIER - Jay has been photographing Africa's wildlife since 2004. Having travelled to Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa, Jay has built up a strong portfolio of images as well as a deep knowledge of the diverse species and behaviors of Africa's wildlife. Working in the professional photographic industry for over eleven years, Jay currently works for Canon Australia, until recently managing the Canon Professional Services (CPS) group which is responsible for supporting many of Australia’s leading professional photographers. His images and articles have been published in magazines, including Africa Geographic and Better Photography, and in commercial advertising campaigns in Australia. In 2007, several of Jay’s images made it through to the semi-final stage of judging with the BBC World Wildlife Photo competition. His technical understanding of photographic theory and the technologies, features and functions of today’s cameras and lenses is second to none. This expertise has been accumulated from working with both Canon and Nikon, in the professional photographic divisions of both companies. His passion for photographing Africa knows no bounds! Jay is on this amazing trip to specifically aid each one of you in bettering your photography expertise.

ABOUT MADAGASCAR

Madagascar is a land of such unique flora and fauna that 80% of it exists nowhere else in the world. Come with us on this magical trip to photograph some of the most distinctive creatures and plant life that you will ever see.

Reptiles and Frogs About 92% of the reptiles are endemic, and you won’t see them anywhere else in the world. There are over 360 reptile species and new ones are

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constantly being found. There are no pythons, cobras, mambas or monitor lizards.

Approximately half of the

world’s species of chameleon

are found in Madagascar,

including the world’s

smallest, about the size of a

thumbnail, and the world’s

largest. There are lots of

geckos, including the

camouflaged leaf-tailed

gecko that you will only

usually spot when it opens its

mouth revealing a bright

orange interior.

Frogs come in a fascinating array of colors, from blue and yellow reed frogs, to the

blue eyed, green tree frogs. It is thought that there are about 300 frog species here,

and 99% are endemic.

Carnivores There are just eight carnivore species in Madagascar, each of which proves to be a complete enigma due to their variety in size and shape, alongside their

lack of close relatives. Most famous is the fossa which can grow up to 1.6 metres (63

inches) in length and looks something like a short, slender panther, but is part of the mongoose family. You could also spot the Malagasy striped civet, a secretive animal about the size of a house cat. Other carnivores include the ring-tailed mongoose, narrow-striped mongoose and the mysterious brown-tailed mongoose.

Other Mammals The adorable-looking tenrecs have 30 known species. Looking slightly like hedgehogs, these species can vary in size from the pygmy, at just 3 grams, to the Talazac’s shrew tenrec which can grow up to 40 grams (approximately 1.4 ounces). They are very fast. There are also a variety of rodents, including the giant jumping rat, forest rats, white-tailed tree rats and

the tiny, big-footed mice. Bats also call Madagascar home, with two distinct

groups; fruit bats and flying foxes. 67% of the bat species are endemic to the island.

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Insects Not everyone is an insect fan, but

we can’t leave them off the list. They are

absolutely fascinating and astonishingly

diverse in Madagascar. There are giraffe- necked weevils, jewel beetles, colorful caterpillars and stunning moths. Giant millipedes can grow to over 15cm in length and despite being poisonous (not to humans), have been seen in the hands of lemurs who ingeniously rub off the toxins. Lastly we get to the spiders; some of the most bizarre you will come across, from orb- web spiders and net-throwing spiders, to kite spiders (which look a bit like crabs) and bird-dropping spiders which camouflage themselves as excrement and pick off the interested flies.

This is a trip of a life time that will take you to both the breadth and most of the length of Madagascar. You will fly to most destinations because of the remoteness and will travel by 4X4 through tropical rain forests, desert areas, seashores and everything in between. Most tours of Madagascar stay near the capital city of Antananarivo because of the poor and limited roads. We will use special chartered flights to get us to where we want to go quickly and hopefully with very few of the problems associated with regular flights throughout the limited airports of Madagascar. Non-photographers are also welcome. We will be flying in two 7-12 seater airplanes. Because of this, there is a VERY strict weight limit, as well as very specifically sized luggage limits in order to get the soft sided bags into the hold which has very small doors. Notes: Luggage limit: 20 Kg (45 lbs.) per person (soft bags) without the possibility of overloading.

The total size of each bag must not exceed 140 linear cm (height + width + depth). For security

reasons, persons over 80 kg (180 lbs.) must advise us at the time of registration.

ITINERARY

Description

Day 1 05/06/2017 Antananarivo

A member of our team will welcome you at the international arrivals hall. Please look for a sign with your name after you exit the restricted area with your luggage. You will then be assisted to our vehicle for your private transfer. Since we will not be spending

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much time touring the capital city of Antananarivo, you may want to arrive the day prior in order to acclimate yourself to the time change, or set up a day tour through the hotel. We will be doing a meet and greet at dinner this first evening. We will answer any further questions that you may have at that time. Tamboho Hotel – Dinner

Day 2 06/06/2017 Antananarivo – Andasibe - Breakfast

We start our journey toward the Eastern part of the island. After exiting the busy and colorful capital city of Antananarivo, we will reach the Nationale 2 Route, the main commercial road of the country which leads to the East coast of Madagascar and its main harbor. We will make a stop at Madagascar Exotic. This private reserve is also known as Peyrieras Butterfly Farm, Peyrieras Nature Farm, and Mandraka Reptile Farm. It is a small privately run reserve at Marozevo, on National Road N2, 75 km (47 mi) east of Antananarivo, between the towns of Manjakandriana and Moramanga. It was founded and owned by the French entomologist and naturalist André Peyriéras, which is why it is also known as the Peyrieras Reserve. The collection includes many reptiles (chameleons, iguanas, geckos, frogs), Batraciens (Bats), crocodiles, papillons (Butterflies). The adjacent forest area supports families of relocated and habituated Verreaux's Sifaka and Common brown lemur. You will have opportunities to photograph them close up.

Back on the road, for our 150 km (3.5 hour) long journey, we will see various landscapes of the highlands, from rice fields to small traditional villages perched on hill sides. A twisty, steep and lush portion of the road will announce that we are entering another region of Madagascar. You will arrive in Andasibe, known for its National Park, and home of the primary and secondary forest.

At nightfall, pick up your headlamps and flashlights for a nocturnal walk in the rainforest of the Mitsinjo Nocturn Reserve. In 2012, villagers from Andasibe founded the reserve as an alternative to the government led national park in the area. The local people wanted to manage their land on their own again and be a part of ecotourism in this area.

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For reptiles and amphibian lovers, the reserve offers numerous varieties of frogs, colorful butterflies and chameleons along with geckos, crocodiles, and bats in the forest.

For those with a scientific bent, you may see: Boophis pyrrhus, Boophis viridis and madagascariensis) and several amazing chameleons Chamäleons (Furcifer wilsii, Calumma parsonii cristifer, Calumma nasuta

and brevicornis.

This is also a place to find the unique satanic leaf-tailed gecko, (Uroplatus phantasticus). Bizarre insects like the famous giraffe necked weevil

Trachelophorus giraffe) are part of the forest, too.

This community-run reserve is open for night-walks to those interested to search for lemurs, listen to the frogs, or stumble across sleeping chameleons after dark.

Vakona Forest Lodge - Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast

Day 3 07/06/2017 Andasibe, which is close to the capital and is one of the few areas with good road structure.

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The Mantadia Park: We will visit the primary forest of Mantadia. Located about a 1-hour drive from our base, the primary forest of the Mantadia Park spreads over 15,000 hectares. There are 108 species of birds are known in the park, of which some play a role in the survival of plants like Terpsiphone mutata. We can also find 14 species of lemurs, species of reptiles, such as the snake, Boa manditra, and 84 species of amphibian.

This hike requires medium to good physical condition as there are steep slopes and dense vegetation. Please bring walking sticks if needed.

Of all lemurs of Mantadia, the

Indri Indri, endemic to

Madagascar, is the one that most

enjoy best in the park. It is the

world’s largest of lemurs, and has

a very haunting call. We will

make attempts to track them for

photo opportunities. The Indiri

likes to live in groups and

scientific research demonstrated

that this lemur cannot be raised in captivity. Some endemic species like Eulemur

fulvus, Hapalemur griseus, the smallest lemur Microcebus and Lepilemurs can be also

found.

Mantadia is a kingdom of the orchids. Cymbidiellas falcigera and Bulbophyllum ameleni are the most enigmatic species, because in addition to be rare and magnificent plants, they maintain the balance of the forest’s ecosystem.

Vakona Reserve visit: On the immense Vakona property, an island surrounded by fresh water is home to various species of lemurs: common brown lemurs, bamboo lemurs, ruffed lemurs, diademed sifakas. This will be a rare opportunity to get up close and interact with these primates. Amazing photo opportunities and souvenirs will be the result of that visit.

There are also numerous crocodiles, which can also be found in a small lake on the property. If you happen to be around on a Saturday, you may see the reptiles having their weekly feast.

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Andasibe Village: We will make a special visit to the village of Andasibe which has a population of around 5000 people. Through this visit you will walk in the narrow and unpaved cobbled streets along the small stalls, and witness the daily life of this colorful village. With your guide, you will have several chances to interact with, and photograph local villagers and see how they work and play. The walk starts at the old colonial train station with its alpine architecture which was home very fashionable restaurant "Buffet de la Gare" in the 1930s. The market is centrally located and busiest on Saturdays.

Vakona Forest Lodge - Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast

Day 4 08/06/2017 Andasibe - Akanin'ny Nofy On this day, we will enter the Betsimisaraka region of Madagascar. The landscape vegetation now contrasts from the one we saw in the highlands, the territory of the Merina tribe. The Betsimisaraka tribe have a different culture and this is shown in different

architectures of the houses, and the types of crops they grow. After the 3-hour drive

on a paved road, we will have 30 minutes of dirt road to reach the lake Rasoabe, one of the great lakes of Madagascar. These great lakes were linked by man-made channels to form an inland waterway called the Canal of Pangalanes.

We will board a speed boat on the Canal des Pangalanes for about an hour ride to the Palmarium. This is a 600-kilometer long channel; which has been used both as a means of transportation up and down the coast and as a fishing area. It was constructed under the governance of General Joseph Gallieni during the early French colonial years of 1896-1904. The canal still dominates daily life in this region as it provides the main source of trade, transport and travel. Cruising by boat on the calm waters of Pangalanes is a fascinating journey through time and history. Many traditional Betsimisaraka villages can be seen along the banks, as well as pirogues (traditional dugout canoes), local fishermen, over-crowded ferries and rafts with straw huts carrying timber en-route to Tamatave. All great to photograph along the way.

By the end of the afternoon, you will embark on the pirogue for a quiet ride on the Pangalane's Chanel which will take you to the island of the famous Aye-Aye. There are 6 known Aye Aye that live about 15 min. from the hotel. You will spend about an hour exploring the area, and ride back to the hotel afterwards.

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Palmarium - Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast

Day 5 09/06/2017 Akanin'ny Nofy

This is not a common tourist area. It is a unique remote area that is a nature and macro photographers dream. We will visit a village and the Palmarium reserve to try to see and photograph all 10 varieties of lemurs that live here. Some of these are the Indri, Sifaka, Coronatus, Varécia, Variegata, Propithèques, etc. Other very rare things to photograph are the orchids, carnivorous plants, granadilla wood, mahoganies, voyager trees...) and the most

beautiful and rarest Madagascan palm-trees (Dypsis, Ravenea, Orania, and also Voanioala and Lemurophoenix).

Palmarium - Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast

Day 6 10/06/2017 Akanin'ny Nofy - Antananarivo

At the agreed time, we will leave Ankanin'ny Nofy by boat to Manambato where the vehicles will pick us up.

We will continue the trip and begin our ascent toward the highlands and the capital. This journey will give you an impressive perspective about the difference of altitude between the two regions. This elevation is exploited by the hydroelectric power station which you will drive by. You will arrive back at our Tamboho Hotel in Antananarivo after an almost 300km journey lasting about 5 hours. This will be our longest ride in a vehicle.

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Tamboho Hotel - Lunch- - Dinner, Breakfast

Day 7 11/06/2017 Antananarivo - Ranohira (Isalo) We will transfer you to the

private charter terminal so you can embark on your private flight to Ranohira.

Isalo window: At the end of day, we take a short drive to the window of Isalo, a rectangular formation of rocks atop a hill with a large hole, hence a window. This natural picture frame is the perfect setting for a photo of the beautiful Madagascar sunsets.

Isalo Rock Lodge - Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast

Day 8 12/06/2017 Ranohira (Isalo)

Isalo National Park: Accompanied by your park ranger, we will hike through the canyons and oases of Isalo, and its lunar landscape to reach some waterfalls. This environment was formed during the Jurassic age, where the unique flora has evolved

adapting to the existing conditions. There are 77 species of birds that live in Isalo, among which is the rare and famous Benson rock-thrush (Pseudocossyphus bensoni). During that hike, we will see different species of lemurs, including the world famous ring tailed lemur.

After the canyons, we will go to different places to see a panoramic view of the landscape. We will have the opportunity to relax in this environment and swim in the natural pools.

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Isalo Rock Lodge - Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast

Day 9 13/06/2017 Ranohira (Isalo) - Morondava

You will be transferred by private charter from Ranohira, to Morondava, the most striking area where the famous Baobab Alley is found. This is a 1h30 to 2h flight.

Betania village: Early in the morning and depending on the time of the tide, we embark on a pirogue and we pass through the port of Botry (on traditional dhows) and navigate across the mangroves. We arrive at Betania, a small coastal village of Vezo fishermen. The Vezo is the term the semi-nomadic coastal people of southern Madagascar use to refer to people that have become accustomed to life from sea fishing. They go as far as 50km away from the shores on their small pirogues without any navigational instruments. We will see them arriving from their fishing trip. As soon as the pirogues are emptied, we watch the locals bargain for the freshest catch of the day, picking out fresh shrimps, mackerels, tuna and sharks. Interesting photo opportunities.

The Baobab Alley: The Avenue or Alley of the Baobabs is a prominent group of baobab trees lining the dirt road between Morondava and Belo sur Tsiribihina in the Menabe region in western Madagascar. Its striking landscape draws travelers from around the world, making it one of the most visited locations in the region. It has been a center of local conservation efforts, and was granted temporary protected status in

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July 2007 by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests, the first step toward making it Madagascar's first natural monument.

Along the Avenue in a stretch of about 3/5 of a mile, some 20 - 25 trees are remaining, about 30 meters (100 feet) in height, of the species Adansonia grandidieri, endemic to Madagascar. Some 20 - 25 more trees of this species grow in nearby rice paddies and

meadows. Baobab trees, up to 800 years old, known locally as renala (Malagasy for

"mother of the forest"), are a legacy of the dense tropical forests that once thrived on Madagascar. The trees did not originally tower in isolation over the severe landscape of scrub but stood in a dense forest. Over the years, as the country's population grew, the forests were cleared for agriculture, leaving only the baobab trees, which the locals preserved as much in respect as for their value as a source of food and building materials.

This is a great place to relax and enjoy the beach area, or go off a bit on your own to photograph. The small villas along the beach are quite nice for such a remote area.

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The area is not a national park, and the trees are threatened by further deforestation, effluent from encroaching rice paddies and sugarcane plantations, and bush and forest fires. Despite its popularity as a tourist destination, the area has no visitor center or gate fees, and local residents receive little income from tourism. You will also have an opportunity for a sunrise shoot in Baobab Alley.

Palissandre Côte Ouest Resort & Spa - Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast

Day 10 14/06/2017 Morondava

Kirindy Forest: We head to the Kirindy reserve, home of the Fossa, the largest mammal carnivore in Madagascar. The Fossa are very shy, and therefore tend to stay away from places where there are people. We will be very excited to be able to see one. Madagascar is also very unique compared to all other African countries, in that it has no predator animals to be concerned about. It leaves the visitor free to walk about without fear of being eaten by any animal.

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Kirindy is one of Madagascar’s most threatened ecosystems: its dry deciduous forests. It is also famous for the giant jumping rat, but is also home to seven species of lemur and a number of endemic reptiles. We will spend a full day here to spot the wildlife and discover the flora. we will head back to the world famous Baobab Alley to photograph the dramatic sunset over these endemic trees.

Palissandre Côte Ouest Resort & Spa - Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast Day 11 15/06/2017 Morondava - Bekopaka Bemaraha You will take a short 45 minutes’ flight to Amborodia, the airstrip located near the Tsingy of Bemaraha. You will fly over beautiful sceneries along the coast of the Mozambique channel, the Kirindy forest and you will spot some giant baobabs from your window.

Great Tsingy of Bemaraha: We embark on our 4x4 vehicles and drive to entrance of the trail, about 17km North of Bekopaka. We will be equipped with harnesses clipped to the steel cable to climb and walk across the lime stone forest. The Tsingy de Bemaraha Integral Nature Reserve represents rare or eminently remarkable geological phenomena and of exceptional beauty. It presents impressive geological elements including karstic scenery with a highly dissected limestone massif rising up to 100 metres, forming veritable cathedrals, offering a grandiose, spectacular natural landscape.

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Soleil des Tsingy - Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast

Day 12 16/06/2017 Bekopaka Bemaraha

Manambolo river ride: At dawn, we take a traditional pirogue (dugout) to navigate on the Manambolo river and admire the impressive gorges (canyons). Further up on the river, we will see some caves and learn about the funeral traditions of the Vazimba (the first inhabitants of Madagascar).

Small Tsingy: We start with this easy introduction to the Tsingy of Bemaraha. The short circuit passes through a labyrinth of limestones and its access is relatively easy via walkways and iron ladders and small bridges. While the pinnacles were steep, they are not too high. We can observe them over from two viewpoints. We have some good chances to spot the Decken’s sifaka and red-fronted brown lemurs.

Soleil des Tsingy - Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast Day 13 17/06/2017 Bekopaka Bemaraha - Anjajavy You will be transferred by a charter plane to Anjavavy. Located on the West coast of Madagascar 120 km (75 miles) north of Majunga, Anjajavy is a remote fishing village on an extraordinary peninsula. The 550-hectare reserve surrounding Anjajavy L’Hôtel includes 4 types of nature’s gems: A dry deciduous forest made of palissandre trees, ebony trees, baobabs and other plants endemic to Madagascar. It has the only protected mangrove in the country. There is tsingy coral, and unique limestone rock formations and beautiful beaches

Anjajavy L’Hôtel is member of Relais & Châteaux. It is one of Madagascar’s luxury resorts. The famous Parisian landscape architect Camille Muller was inspired to gather the rarest plant species in the hotel’s landscaped garden. It is the perfect place

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to end any trip. It is located in a beautiful nature reserve, home of a wide variety of lemurs, reptiles, rare birds, plants, chameleons, tortoises, papyrus, carnivorous plants, and little fishing villages and other endemic flora and fauna, which you may choose to photograph. Birdwatching enthusiasts may also spot water birds such as the Madagascan sacred ibis and the Madagascan flying fox.

You may spend time relaxing in beautiful rosewood villas along a long sandy beach of the Mozambique Channel. You may also choose to spend time swimming or hiking in this area.

Anjajavy hotel - Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast

Take advantage of your time in Anjajavy to relax on one of the pristine beaches, practice some nautical sports or go for one of the walks and excursions. For most of them, no special physical skills are required. Through the marked out track, you will discover the dry deciduous forest, the surrounding coves and the fishermen’s villages... If you wish, one of our guides will come with you and will show you the luxuriance and the diversity of the vegetation. You will have several opportunities to observe lemurs, chameleons, birds, crabs, etc. Tea will be served at the beautiful oasis every day at 5:00. Inquire about any special boat excursions or romantic experiences.

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Anjajavy hotel - Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast Day 15 19/06/2017 Anjajavy

Anjajavy hotel - Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast

Day 16 20/06/2017 Anjajavy - Antananarivo

A charter plane will transfer you to Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. The journey will last 11/2 hours. During your approach, do not miss the numerous rice fields

surrounding the capital offering a great variation of green colors. A member of our

team will pick you up at the domestic arrivals hall. Once your luggage is collected, you will then be led to your vehicle for your private transfer.

Antananarivo, CBD and downtown visit: Discover the city's main commercial and administrative neighborhoods, which spread out from the city's railroad station at Soarano, the Avenue of Independance and the place where the ‘Zoma’ (Friday market) used to take place. It was at one time, the largest open air market in the world. You will have the opportunity to climb one of the many stairway called ‘totobato” which will lead you to the CBD, the street of jewelers and the Presidential Palace.

Handcrafts Markets of Antananarivo: Depending on what you are looking for to bring home, we will take you to the appropriate market. Among them, The Marche artisanal Digue is considered the largest local handicrafts market in Antananarivo. This bustling market sells everything from embroidery items to wood carvings. You can also find creations made of smooth leather and a special paper called ‘Antaimoro paper.’ Apart from the handicrafts, the Digue also offers semi-precious items like colored stones and home- decor creations made from rare silks.

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- Day Use at Relais des Plateaux. We transfer you to the international terminal, on time for your departure flight. We wish you a safe flight home. End of our services.

WE HAVE ROOM FOR 12 GUESTS ONLY. PLEASE REGISTER SOON IN ORDER TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE.

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Summary of Itinerary

Day Accommodation Meals Notes

05/06 Antananarivo Tamboho Hotel D,B

06/06 Andasibe Vakona Forest Lodge L,D,B

07/06 Andasibe Vakona Forest Lodge L,D,B

08/06 Akanin'ny Nofy Palmarium L,D,B

09/06 Akanin'ny Nofy Palmarium L,D,B

10/06 Antananarivo Tamboho Hotel L-D,B

11/06 Ranohira (Isalo) Isalo Rock Lodge L,D,B Private Charter Flight

12/06 Ranohira (Isalo) Isalo Rock Lodge L,D,B

13/06 Morondava Palissandre Côte Ouest Resort L,D,B Private Charter Flight

14/06 Morondava Palissandre Côte Ouest Resort L,D,B

15/06 Bekopaka Bemaraha Soleil des Tsingy L,D,B Private Charter Flight

16/06 Bekopaka Bemaraha Soleil des Tsingy L,D,B

17/06 Anjajavy Anjajavy hotel L,D,B Private Charter Flight

18/06 Anjajavy Anjajavy hotel L,D,B

19/06 Anjajavy Anjajavy hotel L,D,B

20/06 Antananarivo D-L- Private Charter Flight

B=Breakfast; L= Lunch; D = Dinner; AI = All-Inclusive

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PHOTOGRAPHY

You’ll be photographing a wide variety of subjects on this trip, so you may want to bring

a good range of lenses. A polarizing filter is essential for many scenic shots. Bringing a

tripod is optional. The newest DSLR cameras yield very good results at very high

ISO’s, so many people prefer the flexibility of not using a tripod. However, for shooting

twilight and night scenes of baobabs, cityscapes, or other night life, a tripod is still best.

We will have the opportunity to shoot some city scenes, colonial buildings and

churches at twilight. It’s good to have a small flashlight to keep in your camera bag. I

rarely use a flash, but I recommend bringing one to use for bright sunny contrast

situations, etc. And be sure to bring more memory card space than you think you will

need. You should have a chance every night to download memory cards, I recommend

a laptop and external hard drive. We will have more than one optional image sharing

session, so I strongly recommend bringing a laptop for editing and sharing. You then

get the added bonus of being able to use it for internet and email when you can get to

Wi-Fi.

On some days we’ll be getting up very early and shooting before breakfast, and there

may be times when we’ll have to wait to have lunch or dinner later than normal to

accommodate our shooting and traveling schedule. I recommend bringing along some

energy bars and/or other compact snack food for these situations. A travel alarm clock

is important, as you can’t always rely 100% on hotel wake-up calls. And please

remember to pack light as we’re going to be on the move – checking in and out of

hotels, and loading the bags in and out of the charter planes, etc. There may not

always be someone to help you with your luggage. Please check Notes and

Considerations for luggage limitations.

There will be opportunities to have laundry done at most or all of the hotels.

COSTS

Price of the Trip: There may be some slight changes in costing because of the Chartered airline trips. We are planning for all to remain as it has been planned out below. Payment is in US currency only.

Per Person Twin Sharing: US$9,900.00

Single Supplement Price per person: US$1,100

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FAQs

Can I drink the tap water in Madagascar?

No. We recommend that you always drink bottled, boiled or treated water during your

time in Madagascar. You can buy purification tablets or iodine to treat water during

your travels, and vitamin C tablets are good for hiding the taste. If you are buying

bottled water, ensure the bottle is sealed when it is handed to you. Always ensure that

any ice in drinks is purified or made from bottled water rather than tap.

What documents will I need?

For ALL non-Malagasy citizens, you need a valid passport with a minimum of 6 open

pages, and valid passport for at least 6 months from departure in June, 2017.

What kind of electrical adapters do I need?

Madagascar uses European sockets.

Do I need a visa?

Yes. At present, tourist visas are required by all nationalities entering Madagascar.

Upon signing up for this trip, you will be provided a visa form to send in to obtain your

visa. At present, visas for Madagascar are approximately $30 US, but things change

regularly, so contact your local Embassy for more details.

Is Madagascar safe?

Yes. Madagascar is one of the safest and friendliest countries we have travelled to.

The locals, staff and guides are all welcoming and friendly, happy to answer your

questions and keen to talk. You must ensure, wherever you are travelling to, that you

look after your belongings, keep money in separate places in case of loss or theft and

ensure you’re not out alone at night. There are some cases of petty theft in the capital,

so make sure you don’t walk around flaunting jewelry or money, and remember that

Madagascar is a very poor country. In regard to the wildlife, there are very few animals

that pose a threat to humans. There are over 80 species of snakes, none that are of

major threat, and crocs in some areas. So long as you listen to your guides, you will

remain in safe hands.

What is the food like?

Madagascar has a rice based diet. Sautéed vegetables offered with rice, noodles, and

some meats are common. We will get your dietary limitations/requirements in advance

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and we will do our best to arrange for special dietary restrictions.

What money should I take?

The local currency in Madagascar is Malagasy Ariary, although most major currencies

are accepted. US Dollars and Euros are usually the preferred currency. Make sure

your notes are relatively new as older notes can be harder to change. There are not

very many opportunities to change money in Madagascar, nor are there many ATMs,

so when you arrive at the airport (or before you depart) try to change enough to last

you the trip duration.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Payments

Terms of Payment in US currency are as follows:

A non-refundable US$2,475 deposit at the time of submitting the completed Registration Form.

A second non-refundable payment of $2,475 on or before Friday 17th February 2017.

A final payment of the remaining $4,950, on or before Friday 7th April 2017.

Please email NickiGPhotos@aol.com to determine costing from other countries.

2. Cancellations and Refunds

Cancellations cannot be made online.

All requests for cancellation must be received in writing. Cancellations received 180

days or more prior to departure, are refunded less an administrative fee of minimum

US$1000 per person. If cancellation is received between 179 days and 120 days, the

deposit is forfeited. If cancellation occurs less than 120 days prior to departure, all

payments are forfeited. If full payment has not yet been received, the full penalty will

still apply and any unpaid balance is due immediately. To protect the traveler’s

investment, we recommend that you obtain adequate trip cancellation insurance.

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3. Emergency Evacuation Insurance

Compulsory Insurance:

Emergency evacuation expenses

Medical expenses Recommended Insurance:

Cancellation or curtailment of trip

Damage/theft/loss of personal luggage, money and goods

4. Travel Insurance

Due to the remoteness of where we travel, an adequate medical facility could be

up to 72 hours away or more, dependent on weather. Emergency medical

evacuation can be delayed or unavailable in certain areas. It is a condition of the booking that you have comprehensive travel insurance coverage. There are many travel insurance companies. I personally use Seven Corners at: https://www.sevencorners.com Another fine recommendation is Travelex Insurance at https://www.travelexinsurance.com It is up to each traveler to choose the insurance that will work best for them. These are just two options.

Due to the remoteness of the areas in which we travel, travelers must have a minimum

US$50,000 (or equivalent) of emergency medical coverage. We require proof of

coverage along with your trip costing. The travel insurance policy should also cover

trip cancellation insurance, trip delay (interruption or after departure coverage),

baggage and repatriation. We will not be held responsible for delays due to force

majeure, (acts of nature or God). Any additional costs accrued will be the responsibility

of the traveler.

Everyone is required to ensure their travel insurance arrangements comply with

the Terms & Conditions listed above.

If you have any queries regarding them or do not understand them, please let us know, as soon as possible, by email to NickiGPhotos@aol.com

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NOTES AND CONSIDERATIONS

Quotation Includes:

The meet and greet at the airport upon arrival and assistance upon departure.

Transfers Airport - hotels and vice versa.

Private Charter flights: Antananarivo - Isalo - Morondava - Bekopaka (Amborodia) - Anjajavy - Antananarivo

All activities specifically listed in the itinerary.

Entrance and guiding fees when visiting parks and sites listed in the itinerary

Rental of a private air conditioned vehicles (private SUV, private minivan depending on size of the group).

Fuel and Insurances of the vehicles.

The driver’s per diem cost for the duration of the above rental.

The guide’s per diem cost.

Warranty that a replacement vehicle will be provided in case of non-repairable breakdown.

Overnight stays in hotels listed or equivalent.

Listed Meals.

All taxes.

Quotation Excludes:

Tips and gratuities.

International airfares.

Tips.

Personal expenses.

Alcoholic Beverages.

Personal travel insurance.

Extra activities not scheduled in the itinerary.

Visa fees

Guidance on Tipping/Gratuities Tipping is not mandatory, but it is how most service workers make their living. The following guideline, based on good service and Malagasy standards, is to assist you on how much to tip. The amounts suggested are in US dollars. You should plan on $20 per day. The below recommendations are ‘per person’ and not ‘per couple’.

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1. Drivers Recommend US $10 per guest per day, to be split amongst them. 2. Main Guide Recommend US $10 per guest per day.

Luggage Limitations There is a TOTAL luggage limitation of 70lbs/person. That includes ALL camera gear along with personal luggage and toiletries. Because the planes have limited capacity, you and your luggage will be weighed before boarding. Please adhere to the restrictions. Bags should be soft sided and no larger than a carry-on suitcase. Dietary Requirements For those quests with specific dietary requirements please ensure that information is included on the form provided upon registration, and Nicki Geigert is notified well in advance of your specifics before you depart. It can be difficult to meet special requirements in the remote regions of Madagascar, but we will do what we can to work with you on special arrangements.

Medical Conditions Please notify Nicki Geigert of any medical condition you may have on your registration form prior to your departure. This includes any allergies, ie bee stings, nuts, shell fish etc. Please make sure that you bring what you need for any allergic reactions. We will be remote.

Insurance It is a condition of your booking to carry the correct comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover yourself for the duration of your trip to Madagascar. This insurance should include but not limited to, the following eventualities: Compulsory Insurance:

Emergency evacuation expenses

Medical expenses

Repatriation expenses Recommended Insurance:

Cancellation or curtailment of trip

Damage/theft/loss of personal luggage, money and goods

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Nicki Collins Geigert, Jay Collier, Iconic Images International and Denis Glennon AO, including their representatives, employees and agents will take no responsibility for any costs, losses incurred or suffered by the guest, or guest’s dependents or traveling companions, with regards to, but not limited to, any of the above mentioned eventualities. Guests will be charged directly by the relevant service providers for any emergency services they may require, and may find themselves in a position of being unable to access such services should they not be carrying the relevant insurance cover.

Health Insurance It is recommended that you have full medical, emergency evacuation and repatriation cover for the full period of time that you are traveling. We look forward to meeting you in Madagascar. Nicki Collins Geigert.